8 Jun 2026
Managed migration
Deadline — act or lose money
Got a Migration Notice? You have a hard deadline — and your old benefits stop if you miss it.
Verified against GOV.UK and Citizens Advice this week: a Migration Notice gives you at least 3 months from the date on the letter to claim Universal Credit. Universal Credit does not start automatically — if you don't claim by the deadline your current (legacy) benefits stop and you lose your transitional protection top-up. Tax credits closed on 5 April 2025, and the remaining legacy benefits (income-related ESA, Income Support, income-based JSA, working-age Housing Benefit) were scheduled to close by the end of March 2026. Former tax-credit claimants with savings over £16,000 get a transitional capital disregard for up to about a year. Free help: Citizens Advice Help to Claim 0800 144 8444.
Source: GOV.UK "Move to Universal Credit if you get a Migration Notice letter" + Citizens Advice + House of Commons Library CBP-9984SortedUK page: /moving-to-universal-creditConfidence: High
8 Jun 2026
Unemployment + NI
Money you may have earned
If you've lost your job, New Style JSA can be claimed even if you have savings.
Verified against GOV.UK this week: New Style Jobseeker's Allowance is paid on your National Insurance record, not on your savings or your partner's income — so people who are turned away from Universal Credit because of savings can still get it. It pays £75.65/week (under 25) or £95.55/week (25+) for up to 182 days, and you can claim it alongside UC. You qualify on Class 1 contributions paid as an employee, usually across the two tax years before you claim. Self-employed people who only paid Class 2 can't get JSA — but may get New Style ESA if unwell.
Source: GOV.UK New Style JSA guidance (updated Nov 2025) + DWP 2026/27 ratesSortedUK page: /jobseekers-allowanceConfidence: High
8 Jun 2026
Citizens Advice
Right number to call
The free Help to Claim line for Universal Credit is 0800 144 8444.
We corrected this across SortedUK this week after checking citizensadvice.org.uk directly. Citizens Advice runs a free, confidential Help to Claim service that supports you from starting a Universal Credit claim through to your first payment — the England line is 0800 144 8444 (Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm). Two numbers are easy to confuse: 0808 196 3651 is the Citizens Advice debt line, and 0800 144 8848 is the general Adviceline. For UC help specifically, use 0800 144 8444.
Source: citizensadvice.org.uk — Help to ClaimSortedUK page: /universal-creditConfidence: High
7 Jun 2026
Families + Universal Credit
More money for 3+ child families
The two-child limit is gone — a child element for every child.
Verified against DWP 2026/27 guidance this week: from April 2026 the two-child limit was abolished. Universal Credit now includes a child element — £303.94 a month per child (£351.88 higher rate for a first child born before 6 April 2017) — for every child you're responsible for, not just the first two. If you have 3 or more children and your award still looks like the old amount, query it in your UC journal now.
Source: DWP Benefit & Pension Rates 2026/27 + House of Commons LibrarySortedUK page: /universal-creditConfidence: High
7 Jun 2026
Disability benefits
Rumour corrected
The PIP "4-point rule" never happened — and 700,000 people now skip reassessments.
We checked the circulating fear that PIP claimants now need 4 points in a single daily-living activity — it is false. The 4-point clauses were removed from the legislation in July 2025 and never took effect for anyone. What IS true for 2026: rates rose from 6 April (max £194.60/week), around 700,000 people with severe, lifelong or terminal conditions are now exempt from routine reassessments, and the independent Timms review of the assessment reports in autumn 2026. Don't let a rumour stop you claiming.
7 Jun 2026
Mortgage help
Helps homeowners on benefits
Support for Mortgage Interest is paying at 3.66% right now.
Read directly from GOV.UK this week: SMI currently covers the interest on up to £200,000 of your mortgage at a 3.66% rate — GOV.UK's own example is £610 a month on the full amount, paid straight to your lender. Pension Credit claimants can start immediately; Universal Credit after 3 months. It's a loan repaid when you sell, with no monthly repayments while you need it.
7 Jun 2026
Benefits + borrowing
Repayments easier
Universal Credit Budgeting Advances: 24 months to repay, deductions capped.
Verified against DWP guidance: the interest-free Budgeting Advance (£100–£812 for one-off costs) can now be repaid over up to 24 months (doubled from 12 in December 2024), and since April 2025 most UC deductions are capped at 15% of your standard allowance — so repaying squeezes your monthly money less than it used to. Check grants you never repay first.
Source: GOV.UK Budgeting Loans + DWP Budgeting Advance guidanceSortedUK page: /budgeting-loanConfidence: High
7 Jun 2026
Work + sick pay
Helps low-paid workers
Statutory Sick Pay now starts on day one — and the earnings limit is gone.
Verified live on GOV.UK (page updated 27 May 2026): under the Employment Rights Act 2025, from 6 April 2026 SSP is £123.25/week or 80% of normal weekly earnings (whichever is lower), paid from the first day off sick — the old 3-day waiting period is abolished — and the lower earnings limit is removed, so low-paid workers who were shut out now qualify. If you were refused SSP before, check again.
Source: GOV.UK Statutory Sick Pay + ERA 2025 factsheetSortedUK page: /statutory-sick-payConfidence: High
7 Jun 2026
Housing + benefits
Rumour corrected
Discretionary Housing Payments are still running in England and Wales.
We checked a circulating claim that DHPs were "replaced by a new Housing Payment from April 2026" — it is false. GOV.UK's DWP guidance (updated 23 Jan 2026) confirms DHPs continue: extra council help with rent shortfalls, deposits and rent in advance for people on Housing Benefit or the UC housing element. Don't be put off applying.
2 Jun 2026
Debt
Helps users
SortedUK launches the /which-debt-first interactive sorter.
The page now ranks user-ticked UK debts in the legal StepChange-Priority order, then surfaces a live money-finder showing total potential £/yr available before paying. Solves the £24bn UK unclaimed-benefits gap by routing users to money before debt payments.
6 Apr 2026
Tax + benefits
Helps users
2026/27 UK tax year begins — new rates take effect.
Personal Allowance frozen at £12,570 for the seventh consecutive year. National Living Wage rises to £12.55/hr (21+). State Pension full new amount rises to ~£241/wk (8.5% triple-lock). Universal Credit standard allowance rises 1.7% (single 25+ to £393/mo). Marriage Allowance unchanged at £252/yr; backdate 4 years still allowed.
Source: Budget 2025 + DWP/HMRC published ratesSortedUK page: /better-off scanConfidence: High
31 Oct 2024
Housing
Costs users more
Stamp Duty additional-property surcharge raised 3% → 5%.
The SDLT additional-property surcharge (second homes, buy-to-let) increased from 3% to 5% on every band, effective 31 October 2024 Budget. A £400k second home now incurs an extra £8,000 SDLT (vs £4,800 previously). FTB threshold £425,000 unchanged. England + Northern Ireland only; Wales uses LTT, Scotland LBTT.
28 Jun 2024
Debt
Helps users
Debt Relief Order debt cap raised £30,000 → £50,000.
From 28 June 2024 you can apply for a Debt Relief Order with up to £50,000 in qualifying debts (previously £30k). Vehicle exemption raised to £4,000. Surplus income test relaxed to under £75/month. Combined with the 6 April fee abolition (now £0), DRO is the most accessible UK statutory write-off route since introduction.
Source: Insolvency Service + Insolvency Proceedings (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2024SortedUK page: /which-debt-firstConfidence: High
6 Apr 2024
Debt
Helps users
Debt Relief Order application fee abolished — now £0.
The £90 DRO application fee was scrapped from 6 April 2024. Apply free via an Approved Intermediary (StepChange, Citizens Advice, National Debtline, PayPlan). This is the most under-publicised consumer change of 2024 — thousands of UK adults eligible for DRO are still unaware the fee is gone.
Source: HM Government + Insolvency Service announcementSortedUK page: /which-debt-firstConfidence: High
April 2024 (rolling)
Family + childcare
Helps users
30 free childcare hours expanding to younger children.
Working parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years now eligible for 15-30 hours of funded childcare (England). Full 30 hours phased in by September 2025. Apply via gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare. Tax-Free Childcare (£2,000/yr per child, £4,000 disabled) remains alongside.
29 Jul 2022 (ongoing)
Consumer rights
Helps users
Pre-paid funeral plans now FCA-regulated.
Every UK pre-paid funeral plan provider must now be FCA-authorised. Pre-July 2022 unregulated plans were a major scam vector; the new regime forces disclosure, capital adequacy, and customer money protection. Verify any UK funeral plan firm on the FCA register at register.fca.org.uk before signing.
4 May 2021 (ongoing)
Debt
Helps users
Statutory Breathing Space scheme came into force.
Every adult in England + Wales with debt can apply for a 60-day legal pause: interest stops, enforcement stops, creditor contact stops. Apply free via StepChange, Citizens Advice, PayPlan or any FCA-authorised debt adviser. Mental Health Crisis Breathing Space lasts as long as treatment + 30 days.
Source: Debt Respite Scheme Regs 2020SortedUK page: /which-debt-firstConfidence: High
Rolling 2025/26
Energy
Helps users
Warm Home Discount auto-identification expanded.
England + Wales scheme now auto-identifies more low-income households using DWP + HMRC data sharing. If you're on Pension Credit Guarantee, you should receive the £150 winter credit automatically. Scotland route still requires application via supplier. Apply ~October each year if you're on means-tested benefits and your supplier hasn't auto-applied it.
Source: DESNZ · Warm Home Discount (England and Wales) Regulations 2022SortedUK page: /warm-home-discountConfidence: High
10 Jun 2024
Consumer rights
Time-sensitive
Cat microchipping now compulsory in England.
All pet cats over 20 weeks must be microchipped + registered to a compliant UK database. £500 fine if non-compliant. Dogs already required since 2016. Microchip free or low-cost via Cats Protection + RSPCA + Blue Cross. Check at check-a-chip.co.uk.
Source: Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023SortedUK page: /pets-helpConfidence: High
6 Apr 2024 (ongoing)
Consumer rights
Helps users
Statutory Carer's Leave right introduced.
Employees can now take 1 unpaid week per year as Carer's Leave from day one of employment (Carer's Leave Act 2023). Separate from annual leave + sickness. Applies to long-term care for a dependant (illness/disability/old age). Self-certify; no doctor's note needed.